Process for preparing a fodder from straw and similar materials



Jan. 16, 1923.

PROCESS FOR PREPARING A FODDER FROM STRAW AND SIMILAR MATERIALS.

E. BECKMANN.

z ML 5 n E N08 mm? a N H U Patented den. 1%, i923.

ERNST BECKMANN, F BERLEN-DAHLEEI, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE CHEDEICAL FOUNDATION, INC, A CGR-LPORATION OF DELAVJARE.

PROCESS FOR PREIPARING- A FODDER FROM' STRA'W AND SIMILAR MATERIALS.

Application filed August 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,833.

1 0 aZZ w/wmit may concern:

Be it known that l, Professor Dr. ERNST BECKMAXN, a citizen of the State oi Germany. and residing at Berlin-Dahlem,

5 Thiclallee (53, Germany have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in or Relating to a Process for Preparing a Fodder "from Straw and Similar illaterials (for which I have filed an applicationin Germany riugust 9, 1918), of which the following" is a specification.

n the preparation or" fodder from straw or similar substances characterized by a content of raw fibres. such as, for example, rush-forest grass, chaff, indian grass, stalks,

rial in a chopped-up condition by means of alkaline liquors, it has been previously suggreeted to boil or to cause the liquor to act upon the straw at an elevated temperature or under steam pressure instead of solely at ordinary temperature, that is without additional heat, for a longer or shorter period according to the concentration of the liquor. The duration of the treatment is continued for the purpose of disintegrating; as completely possible and to obtain a practically complete softening f all knr ts of the straw.

The inventor has learned from his exper ments what the rate of consumption of alkali is while the liquor is acting upon the straw. with what speed the straw subsmi-es are dissolved, what is the intiuence the temperature upon the speed of these reactions and finally what is the digestibility of straw disintegrated tor a longer or shorter period of time.

It has been shown that the highest consumption ot alkali takes place at the beginning ot the disintegrating process. During the 1-} hours for instance at about 15 0.. and when treating rye-straw by means of 19 alkali the greatest part of the alkali necessary for the disintegrating process is consumed and utter this time only a relatively mall consumption takes place.

The solution of the straw substances is most marked at the beginning of the disintegrating process. It diminishes, like the consumption of alkali. in a steeply -falling curve so that at a medium summer-temper ture. a 1- liquor acting upon winter-ryestraw aiter 3 to l2 hours a point is reached and the like, by disintegrating such mate from which point on only a relatively slight solution of straw substances takes place. The knots of the straw are not completely softened during this treatment.

In the wintertime and at temperaturesand with a weight of liquor 8 times greater than that of the straw.

The curve of titre shows the titre as ordinate and the time of action as abscissa. It is evident that the whole reduction of t tre takes place within the first 1-1- hours. lhe titre falls within this time from 10 to 11 and remains stationary during the remainder of the action which is extended to hours.

In the curve of eiiiciency the percentage. of the quantities of fodder in relation to the straw originally taken for treatment are placed as ordinates and again the time is placed as abscissa. The loss of straw corresponds to the dissolved substance. curve shows that after one hour the eliicieney about 84. 7:. Duringthis time conscrpiently 16% of the straw is dissolved. The solution then becomes slower, after (3 hours 20 7;. of the straw is dissolved. alter l2 hours 27 subsequently to this period t solution of the straw substances incases but very little. Within the next 12 hours it amounts to only one per cent.

According to the instance cited after 1-;- hone r. serviceable fodder would be obtained. Theprocess may of course be continued to 12 hours if a more complete solution of straw substance is desired. A treatment of more than 12 hours does not appear to be necessary.

It seems accordingly that the process operates in such a way that in the first period of time (111 -3 hours) the stalks of the straw are almost completely disintegrated whereas the liquor penetrates into the knots less strongly. lVhen the straw is retained in the liquor the same acts upon the knots although iurther substances are at the same time dissolved from the stall-1s. The disintegrating process is interrupted when the consumption of alkali as well as the solution or' the straw substances do not essentially increase. A well disintegrated straw is obtained, the knots of which however are not completely softened.

Feeding experiments have shown that such straw is readily digestible. The reason may lie in the fact that on account of the knots not being entirely softened the animal is compelled to chew the ,i odder perliaps but slightly-and that by the salivation thus taking place digestion is promoted. On the other hand, even if the knots are considered indigestible the content oi these indigestiblc parts is relatively small since the knots constitute only about 7'7 oi? the total quantity of straw.

A further zulvantage of the shorter duration oi the disintegrating process lies in the fact that the aromatic substances of the straw which stimulate the appetite oi? the animal are more completely conserved.

Accordingly the disintegrating process being interrupted in the way defined the following advantages are obtained: A consider-- able economy or time takes place inasmuch as the disintegrating process is brought to an end within a short period of time, i. e., l 1-12 hours according to the concentration of the liquor. This condition affords, of course, an economy of space as the barrels or receptacles employed for the disintegrating process may be much smaller for the same daily output, the cost oi the process is re duecd. Furthermore the eiiiciency is some-- what higher, since not so many digestible parts are removed from the straw as in the cases in which the liquor acts for 36 or more hours. On the other hand the straw is deintegrated to such an extent as to be easily digestible. At the same time, as already noted, it is essential that to a certain degree the animal be compelled to chew which is a condition aimed at in somewhat similarly produced fodder-s by the adding of chopped straw to said 'iodder.

The present invention accordingly intends to decrease the cost and the duration of the disintegrating process for straw and like materials without a reduction in the digestibility of the same. This advantage is obtained by the disintegrating process being discontinued after a certain period. This period is, as already remarked, indicated when the consumption or the alkali and the solution 01 the straw substance do not essentially increase. For example, with straw of winter-rye at medium temperature and using a 11} to 2% liquor this interval is after an action of 3 to 12 hours. The duration of the period depends upon the actual temperature, the concentration of the liquor, the quality and the condition of the material to be disintegrated.

Having now described my invention, what- I claim is 1- 1. A process for the n'eparation of iiorilder from straw and similar materials characterized by a content of raw iibres which consists in disintegrating such material in a chopped-up condition by means oi alkaline liquors, the disintegrating process being discontinued when the consumption oi alkali does not substantially increase.

2. A process for the preparation of fodder from straw and similar materials characterized by a content of raw fibres which con sists in disintegrating such material in a chopped-up condition by means of alkaline liquors at ordinary temperature, the disintegrating process being discontinued after aperiod of from one and a halt to twelve hours.

A process for the preparation or" fodder from straw and similar materials characterized by a content of raw fibres which consists in disintegrating such material in a chopped-up condition by means of alkaline liquors at ordinary temperature, the disintegrating process being discontinued after a period of about three hour.

4. A process for the preparation of fodder iromstraw and similar materials characterized by a content of raw fibres which consists in disintegrating said material in a chopped-up condition by means of an alkaline liquor having a concentration of about one-halt to two per cent at a temperature of about twenty degrees centigriuie the process being discontinued after aperiod oi about three hours.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. U

PROF. DR. ERNST BECKMANN. Witnesses:

JENNE KnoorrN, Gnnrnunn TnUsoHKJi. 

